Sash channel assembly



May 24, 1966 R. G. sPREcl-IER 3,252,256

SASH CHANNEL ASSEMBLY Filed NOV. 4. 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR vATTORNEY May 24, 1966 R. G. sPREcHER SASH CHANNEL ASSEMBLY 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 4, 1963 INVENTOR. BYWm/@gwy M? ATZR/VEY f WM,

3,252,256 SASH CHANNEL ASSEMBLY Raymond G. Sprecher, Detroit, Mich.,assignor to Geueral Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation ofDelaware Filed Nov. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 321,053 Claims. (Cl. 49-351) Thisinvention relates to window regulator mechanisms and more particularlyto a sash channel assembly for a vehicle body window regulatormechanism. v

One feature of this invention is that it provides an improved sashchannel assembly for a vehicle body window regulator mechanism. Anotherfeature of this invention is that it provides a sash channel assemblyhaving spaced discontinuous walls located generally parallel withrespect to each other and adapted to receive therebetween the edgeportion of a glass panel. A further feature of this invention is that itprovides a sash channel assembly including a support member havingspaced rows of wall members providing discontinuous side walls of a sashchannel adapted to receive and to be secured to the edge portion of aglass panel. Yet another feature of this invention is that the wallmembers of one row are nonoppositely located with respect to the wallmembers of the other row whereby the wall members of one row alternatewith the wall members of the other row. Yet a further feature of thisinvention is that decorative members are releasably secured to each ofthe rows of wall members to conceal the wall members and the edgeportion of the glass panel.

These and other features of this invention will be readily apparent fromthe following specification and drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a partially broken away side elevational view of the frontdoor of a vehicle body having a window regulator mechanism mountedtherein and embodying a sash channel assembly according to thisinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a partially broken away view ,taken generally along theplane indicated by line 2--2 of FIG- URE l;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional View taken generally along the planeindicated by line 3 3 of FIG- URE l;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional View taken generally along the plane indicatedby line 4 4 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective View.

Referring now particularly to FIGURE l of the drawings, a conventionalfront door of a vehicle body mounts a conventional cross arm type ofwindow regulator mechanism 12 which is adapted to be connected to thedoor window 14 to move the window between a closed position, as shown,and an open position, not shown, wherein the window 14 is located withinthe door well which is defined by the door inner and outer panels 16 and18, respectively, of door 10. Window 14 opens and closes the rearwardportion of the door window opening and the forward portion of the doorwindow opening is opened and closed by a conventional pivoted type ofventilation window 20.

The sash channel assembly 22 forms the connection between the windowregulator mechanism 12 and the window 14 and includes a sash or supportmember 24, the upper planar face 26 of which forms the base wall of thesash channel which receives the lower edge portion of the window 14 aswill be described. A slotted depending tab or ear 28 at the forward endof member 24 mounts the forward guide shoe assembly and an apertureddepending ear 30 adjacent the rearward end of the member 24 mounts therear guide shoe assembly, with both guide shoe assemblies being adaptedto move within United States Patent O the usual front and rear guidechannels which control lateral movement of the window within the windowopening and window well. The member 24 also includes a plurality ofdepending apertured ears 32 which are adapted to be releasably securedto upwardly extending tabs or arms of a cam channel 34 to therebyconnect the sash channel assembly 22 to the window regulator mechanism12.

Rows 36 and 38 of like generally T-shaped wall members 40 extendupwardly from the support member 24 at opposite edge portions of theplanar face 26 thereof, with the rows 36 and 38 defining thediscontinuous side walls of the sash channel, the base wall of which isdefined by the face 26 of the member 24 as previously mentioned. Each ofthe wall members 40 is of like construction and includes a generallyrectangularly shaped pad portion 42, the face 44 of which is broached orotherwise finished during manufacture so that the distance between thefaces 44 of the rows 36 and 38 is within the desired manufacturingtolerance.

The edge portion 46 of the Window 14 is received between the faces 44 ofthe Wall members 40, with a rubber or other resilient channel 48surrounding the edge portion so as to wedge this edge portion betweenthe faces 44 of the members 40 and thus secure the support member 24 tothe lower edge portion of the window 14.

Since the channel 48 will show intermediate each successive pair of wallmembers 40, it is desirable that'the rows 36 and 38 of wall members beprovided with some type of decorative covering. As best shown in FIGURE5, a decorative molding 52 is provided for each row of wall members,with each molding 52 including an upper return bent edge or flange 54and lower inwardly extending hook fiange portions 56. In order to mountthe moldings 52l on their respective rows of wall members, the

upper bent edge 54 of the molding is hooked over the upper edge of thewall members and located within a recess 58 thereof, as best shown inFIGURE 3, and then lwall members of vrow 38 since the molding 52 of theone row is of a different cross sectional configuration than the moldingof the other row.

Thus, this invention provides an improved sash channel assembly.

I claim:

1. In a vehicle body having a Window opening therein, a movable windowfor opening and closing the opening, and a window regulator mechanismfor moving the window, a sash channel assembly for operativelyconnecting the window to the window regulator mechanism comprising, incombination, a support member having a generally planar face definingthe base Wall of a channel and having spaced rows of wall membersextending from said face and defining spaced discontinuous'walls forreceiving an edge portion of the window therebetween, means .locatedbetween said wall members and the opposite faces `of the window forwedging the window between said wall members, a molding for coveringeach of said walls, each molding having portions thereof fitting betweenthe members of one wall and the face of the window respective to the onewall for mounting each of said moldings on said support member, andvmeans securing said support member to the window regulator mechanism.

2. The structure recited in claim 1 wherein said means located betweensaid wall members includes a resilient member wedged between the wallmembers and a respective face of the window.

3. The structure recited in claim 1 wherein said wall members includespacing means extending o-utwardly therefrom and each of said moldingsengages said spacing means to locate the portions of the molding ttingbetween the wall members and the faces of the window.

4. In a vehicle body having a window opening therein, a movable windowfor opening and closing the opening, and a window regulator mechanismfor moving the window, a sash channel assembly for operativelyconnecting the window to the window regulator mechanism comprising, incombination, a support member having spaced rows of walls membersdefining spaced discontinuous walls for receiving an edge portion of thewindow therebetween, means securing the edge portion of the window tosaid wall members of each of said walls toA secure the window to saidsupport member, means mounted on said wall members for covering each ofsaid discontinuous walls, and means securing said support member to thewindow regulator mechanism.

5. A sash channel assembly comprising, in combination, a support memberhaving a generally planar face dening the base wall of a sash channeland having spaced rows of generally T-'shaped wall members extendingfrom said face and defining spaced discontinuous side walls of a sashchannel adapted to receive the edge portion of a glass paneltherebetween, the wall members of one of said spaced rows beingnonoppositely located with respect to the wall members of the other ofsaid rows whereby said wall members of said one row alternate with saidwall members of said other of said rows, resilient means located betweenthe shank portion of said T-shaped wall members and the faces of saidpanel for wedging said panel between said wall members, and a generallyU- shaped decorative member covering each of said rows of wall members,said decorative member including an upper edge portion hooked over theupper edge of the cross portion of said wall members and spaced loweredge portions hooked over the lower edges of said cross portion of saidwall member.

' References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,222,4534/1917 Otte 189-78 X 1,666,175 4/ 1928 Kennedy 296-445 2,070,624 2/ 1937Schlegel 296-445 2,608,279 8/1952 Pearse 189-77 2,923,038 2/1960Fitzgerald 20-56.4

OTHER REFERENCES 1,074,846 2/ 1960 Germany. 1,130,989 6/ 1962 Germany.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

. W. E. HEATON, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A VEHICLE BODY HAVING A WINDOW OPENING THEREIN, A MOVABLE WINDOWFOR OPENING AND CLOSING THE OPENING, AND A WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISMFOR MOVING THE WINDOW, A SASH CHANNEL ASSEMBLY FOR OPERATIVELYCONNECTING THE WINDOW TO THE HOLLOW REGULATOR MECHANISM COMPRISING, INCOMBINATION, A SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING A GENERALLY PLANAR FACE DEFININGTHE BASE WALL OF A CHANNEL AND HAVING SPACED ROWS OF THE WALLS MEMBEREXTENDING FROM SAID FACE AND DEFINING SPACED DISCONTINUOUS WALLS FORRECEIVING AN EDGE PORTION OF THE WINDOW THEREBETWEEN, MEANS LOCATEDBETWEEN SAID WALL MEMBERS AND THE OPPOSITE FACES OF THE WINDOW FORWEDGING THE WINDOW BETWEEN SAID WALLS, EACH MOLDING FOR COVERING EACH OFSAID WALLS, EACH MOLDING HAVING PORTIONS THEREOF FITTING BETWEEN THEMEMBERS OF ONE WALL AND THE FACE OF THE WINDOW RESPECTIVE TO THE ONEWALL FOR MOUNTING EACH OF SAID MOLDINGS ON SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, ANDMEANS SECURING SAID SUPPORT MEMBER TO THE WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM.